Flapping wing toy



W. E. POLK FLAPPING WING TOY Aug. 12,1958

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6. 1956 INV EN TOR. .W/Z Z/4/V- [UGE/VE P01 K ATTORNEYS Aug. 12, 1958 w. E. POLK 2,346,811

FLAPPING WING TOY 7 Filed Sept. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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ATTIII R N EYE United States Patent ice 2,846,811 I I FLAPPING WING Tor I William Eugene Polk, New York, N. Y. Ap lication September 6, 1956, Serial No. 608,262

z Claims. (31. 4 -124 f1 This invention relates to an amusement device or toy, and more particularly to a toy of the flapping wing type.

This invention is an improvement over the flapping wing toy shown in my prior patents, such as Patents Nos. 2,637,935, 2,637,937, 2,637,938, and 2,637,939.

The object of theinventionis 'to provide a flapping 'wing' toy which includes wings and body portions which resemble a fanciful, creature such as a butterfly or the like, there being a manually operable means for actuatst o I Another objector the invention is to provide a flapping wing'toy which is an improvement over the toys of my prior patents inthat there is provided a novel means for connecting the wings and body portions to the handles so that by actuating the handles the wings and body portion will be-moved, to thereby increase the attractiveness of the.device. I a a I VA still further, object of the invention is to provide a flappingi wing toy which is adapted to be :used by children sections 19 are flapped or moved by the handles. Each or 'the like whereby the children can readily grip the device in the hands'and move the handles so that the wings oflthetdevice willtfla-p: or move back vand-forth whereby. the users will be provided with; mucharnusement and pleasure.

Aitl f 't e ro, ping wing toy {which canQbe easily and inexpensively made,

easily a e m bled ormanufactured; .t

tQ eth wi h, other Dialects and iladvantages' ject of theinvention is ,-to providea flap- 1,

the toy of t-the .presentllinvention adapted. totbe r which willibecorne' ubsequently,apparentrresidein the..- details 'of constructionandloperation,Las more fully hereinafter described and cl'aimed greference,being had to the hereof, wherein atop plan wing 'to'y 'of thepresent invention;

'Fi e 2'is ectional yiew k Figureli" l Fi ure 3- toy of the presentiiirvent'io Figure 5 is a View ysliowm the, handles de tached,

Figureffi adview'showing f the sections tache d flfrom the handle' i v w illustratingthe wings in raised position,

F i is 5 if p in raised position, u e. parts broken .away nand in section showing agmodified arrangement ,fl, .v Figure l0..,i s,,a lfrag mentaryrsectional view illustrating a further modified arrangement}; .1 y Y Figure, 11 isa fragmentary, front parts broken away andi in ection, and illustrating a am -s am;,r

elevationallview I showing the wings shea an fr mentarytside ,elevation alview with elevational view-with Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a still further modification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a flapping wing toy which includes a pair' of handles 11, and the hand-lesll are providedwi-th' flanges 12'intern1ediate the ends thereoh A pivot pin 13 ex tends through the flanges 12 so as to pivotally connect the pair of handles 11 together.

Each of the handles 11 has the same construction, and each includes a curvedhand gripping portion 14 and a shank or stem portion 17, Figure 5. There is further provided a coil spring 15 which is interposed between the pair of 'hand gripping portions 14, and the ends of the coil spring 15 may be seated in'the countersunk recesses 16 in the hand gripping portions 14.

Each of the shanks 17 of the-handles sections 19 may be attractively decorated so as to resemble the Wings of a fanciful creature such as a butterfly or the like, or a bird, and the sections 19=may be provided with bells'so that as the handles 11 are actuated, notonly will the device provide a pleasing'appearance, but also such bells 'will help to increase the pleasure derived from the toy, since the bells will ring when the section 19 includes a Wing portion 20 and a body portion -21.' The body portions 21 are for-med integral with the wing portions20, but the body portions 21 are arranged at approximately a degree angle :with respect to the :wing portions 20, as for example as shown in Figure 8: Each body portion 21 has a resilient band '22'arrangedl in encircling relation therewith,- Figure 4. Thus, the" resilient or rubber band 22 encircles or surrounds the body portions 21.

and resilient or rubber bands 23 are arranged inengagment with the notches-25. The'resilient'bands 23 are also arranged in engagement with, the slots'18 in the: shanks 17 so that as the handles 11 :are'moved towardsv and away from each other or. pivotedabout-tthe .pinl3," the body portions 21 and wingsj20 will 'befiappedr or movedso that a highly pleasing'effect will be achievedwa 1 Referring to, Figure9 of thedrawings there is shown-- a modified flapping Wing toy which is indicated generally by the numeral 26, and the toy 26-includes a'pair-ofz v handles 27 which, are pivotally connected together "in-3 the same manner. as thepreviouslydescribed'handles -11--. -However, in;Fi-gure-9 there-is, shown adifferent means for-attaching the body portions 21 to the handles 27,)

Thus, extending forwardly from an end'of each of the highly realisticor life-like appearance Referring to Figure 10 of the drawings,

further provided with an ofiset'p'ortion36 which has a Patented Aug. 12, 1953 11 is provided with a slot 18 for a purpose to be later described. The toy 10 further includes :a pair of sections 19, and the sections 19 have the "same shape and construction. The

The body portions 21 are provided .with notches or cutouts 24 for receiving the band 22.

The lower sections of the body portions 21; are each provided with a pair of opposed cutouts or:notches 25,":'a

"there'i's shown a further modified flapping wing toy which is indicated? generally by the numeral 32. Thetoy 32"includes a pair" af handles 33 which are pivotally connected together" by f means of a pivot pin 35, each 'han'dle'33 'includin'g'jfahand gripping portion 34. Each of the handles 33 is secure to o o med integral with the .bodyportions38, and the body portions 38 being arranged at an angle with respect to the pair of wing portions 39. Thus, by manuallycengaging the portions 34=of ,the handles. 33 and pivoting the handles about rth'e pin .35, the rods.37 will moveso that the wings 39 will flap to thereby provide the desired: effect;

I Referring to Figure 1-1 .of the drawings thereis shown a still furthermodified toy-which is indicated generally by thenumeral '41. The toy 41 includes a pair of pivotally mounted handles 42 which .each have hand gripping portions 43. Each handle 43 is provided with a slot or cutout 44, for. a purposezto be .later. described. The toy shown in Figure 11 further includes. a pair of similar sections 45 which may :be colored or otherwise arranged to represent the wings of a fanciful creature. such as a butterfly, birdor :the like. Each section 45 includes -a Wing 46 and a body portion47. Extending from each body portion 47 is a curved flange 48, and the flanges 48 extend through-theslo'ts 44 in the handles .42. A rubber band '49:-is arranged :in surrounding relation with respect tothe pair of body portions 47. Thus, when using the toy41shown in Figure 11, the hand gripping portions 43 arewactuated to thereby move the handles and this causes'the pair of body portions 47 to' move towards and away,-from each 'othersince the flanges 48 are arranged inengagement with the slots 44. As the body portions 47zmove, the 'wings'46"will have a flapping motion as indicated? by the solid and dotted line positions in Figure 11.

Referring-to Figure 12 of the drawings there is shown asstillzfurther modification which is indicated generally by the numeral 50. The toy 50 shown in Figure 12 includes az'paino'f similar sections 51, and each section 51sincludes a Wing portion 52 and a body portion 53. There is .further'provided a pair of pivotally mounted handles .64 which are connected to the body portions 53 by means of rubber bands 55. There is further provided a body member '56'which is positioned between the pair of body portions 53, and the member or element 56 is connected to' the body portions 53 by means of a pair of rubber 'bands57 and 58.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a flapping wing toy which is an improvement over'the toys shown and described in my prior patents. In use, the curved portions 14' of the handles 11 are gripped insthe person-s hands andthen the portins'14 are moved towards each other so as to compress the spring-15'. This causes the handles 11 to pivot on the pin13so that the shanks-17 will move away from .each other'and this will causethe pair of body portions 21 to move since the bodyportions 21 are connected to the shanks 17 of the 'handles 11 by means of the rubber bands '23. slots'18in'the 'shanks'17 of thehandles. Thus, as the handles'll pivot,'the body portions 21 will move towards andawayfromeaeh other whereby the wings'20 will flap 'so'that the toy will simulate a flying butterfly, bird or the'like. Aspreviously described, the wing portions 20 and the :body portions of the device are preferably colored or designed so that they, have the appearance of a life-like bird, butterfly or other creature; When pressure on the portions 14 is released, the coil spring 15 will movethe portions 14 away from each other so that the handles 11 will be moved whereby the body portions 21..andwings .20 will again be moved. Thus, by continuously applying pressure tothe portions 14 "and releasing pressure on. the portions 14 acontinuous flap= pingmotion canbeimparted to-the wings 20.whereby thedevice will have the appearance of a birdor the like in tflight.

As previously described, the rubber band 22 is arranged in engagementiwith the-notches 24, and the rubber band 22 is positioned at the junction of th'e' body portions 21' The rubber bands 23 extend throughthev and .thewingsll), the-rubber band-22 serving-to connect the pair of sections 19 together.

Referring to Figure 9 ofthe drawings, there is shown a modified arrangement wherein the handles 27 are provided with the pins 28 which have the rubber bands 30 arranged in engagement therewith, the rubber bands 30 being connected to the notches i25 on the body portions 21. Thus, by moving the handles 27, the body portions 21 and wings 20-can be caused to move. Thus, it will be seen that in Figure 9.the.sl0ts 18 are not'used.

Referring to Figure 10 of the drawings there is shown a still further modified arrangement which is constructed so that by gripping thev portions 34 and pivoting the handles 33 about the pin 35, the pair of rods 37 will move towards and away from each other. As the rods 37 move, they cause movement of the body portions 38 and the body portions are connected to the rods 37 ,by means of thebearings 40. The body portions 38""are formedintegral with or secured to the wings 39tso-tliat" as the handles 33 are moved, the wings 39-will have' a flapping motion.

In Figure 11 there is shown a still further modifiedarrangement -and in Figurell movementot :thehandles 42 causes the wings 46 to flap or moveisincethe=flarrges 48. are arranged in engagement with the slots 44"in"the" handles 42.

In Figure 10 there is provided a rubber band'59'which serves the same purpose as the previously described rubber band 22. 1

Referring to Figure 12 of the'drawingsthere is"shown a still further modification wherein the element 56. is

positionedbetween'the pair of body'portions 53 .of the.

sections 51, and the element 56 may 'be'held-iniplacc by means of rubber bands 57 and 58. Thus, by manually pivoting the handles 54, the body portions 53 will'move, and this will cause-the sections 51 tomove so that'the' wings 52 .can be given a flappingmotion.

The construction of the flapping wing toy oFthepres-r in Figures Ithrough 8, the sections 19' are connected together by means of theirubber band'22, and the sections 19 'are connected 'to' the handles '11'by means of the rub.- her band '23. The coil spring '50 assists finreturningrthe handles to their normalpositions 'aftertheclosing'haud pressure is released from the hand grip portions 14. As the handles are opened and closed, the wings .willspread apart and close'and the flexible bands will permit sufli cient rotary motion of the wings but the bands also hold the wings 'in their to the handles. The provision ofthe'pivot pin Iii-and the flanges or shoulders 12 provides a stable arrangement 1 which will not bind. In Figure 10 the bearings 40 .10

tatably receive the rods 37. The bearings 40 mayicom- :sist of straps or the like. In Figure -11 the curved portions or flanges 48am formed integral: with the body portions 47 or secured thereto, and in-the arrangement shown in Figure '11 no springs are necessary for connecting the body portions to the handles. However, in Figure .11 the sections 45 are connected together .by means :of

the spring member 49. The flexible band 22' tends to keep the Wings in down or spread position so that the spring 22 assists the handle spring 15 in closing the'handl'es'.- In certain instances the 'band'22-may be used with or without other flexible bands and'with or without the spring 15. In Figure 12 there is shown a separate body section 56 which is not physically connected to the wing sections except by means of the flexible'bands '57 and 58. Thus, the body section 56 is held between the portions 53'. and

the arrangement shown'in'Figure '12 provides a simple and eflective method of attaching the body section 56 and properrelation toeach other and the wing sections 51 together so as to permit free up and down movement of the wings when the handles 54 are operated.

I claim:

1. In a flapping wing toy, a pair of handles, a pin pivotally connecting said handles together intermediate the ends thereof, each of said handles being shaped to include a curved hand gripping portion on one end thereof, a coil spring interposed between said hand gripping portions, each of said handles further including a shank on the other end thereof, there being a slot in each of said shanks, said shanks being mounted for movement towards and away from each other, said hand gripping portions being mounted for movement towards and away from each other, a pair of similar sections each shaped to include a wing and a body portion, said body portions being arranged angularly with respect to said wings, there being notches in said body portions, a resilient band encircling said body portions and engaging said notches, each of said body portions being provided with a pair of opposed notched areas, and resilient bands extending through said slots and engaging said notched areas on the body portions.

2. A flapping wing toy comprising a pair of handles, said handles being provided with flanges intermediate the ends thereof, a pin pivotally connecting said flanges together, each of said handles having the same construction and said handles being shaped to embody a curved hand gripping portion on one end thereof, a coil spring interposed between said hand gripping portions, the ends of the coil spring being seated in countersunk recesses in the hand gripping portions, each of said handles further embodying a shank on the other end thereof, there being a slot in each of said shanks, said shanks being mounted for movement towards and away from each other, said hand gripping portions being mounted for movement toward and away from each other, a pair of similar sections each shaped to embody a wing and a body portion, said body portion being arranged at approximately a angle with respect to said wings, there being notches in said body portions, a resilient band encircling said body portions and engaging said notches, each of said body portions being provided with a pair of opposed notched areas, and resilient bands extending through said slots and engaging said notched areas on the body portions so that as the handles are moved towards and away from each other or pivoted about the pin, the body portions and wings will be flapped or moved so that a highly pleasing effect will be achieved.

References Cited in the file of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,599,227 Brown June 3, 1952 2,637,938 Polk May 12, 1953 2,637,939 Polk May 12, 1953 2,714,784 Polk Aug. 9, 1955 

